About the Museum

Director’s Welcome

As I write this letter, we are receiving daily news reports of the horrific war in Syria and the loss of life, home, and country as millions of individuals migrate, or attempt to migrate, to safety. Against the backdrop of these human assaults there is the massive destruction of some of the world’s greatest monuments of civilization. Most recently and most specifically, the ancient Syrian city and UNESCO World Heritage site of Palmyra has been
pummeled by ISIS, destroying what they see as idolatrous
buildings and symbols. Archaeologists, scholars, and
other experts have called it an “irreversible loss.”

Destruction of cultural artifacts and architecture is not new and much has been lost throughout the globe over the centuries through war as well as political and religious zealotry. The question is, why does this matter? Why is it important for these objects and edifices to remain? They matter because these sites, and objects that survive, are crucial components of the cultural identity of communities. They communicate the story of a time, place, and culture in a unique and powerful way. They give tangible understanding and insight about a people, a way of life, and a worldview that cannot be otherwise obtained. When libraries with ancient texts are set on fire, statues hacked from their entrance gates, and the Buddhas of Bamiyan dynamited from their centuries-old perch, our inheritance of world knowledge is diminished. Recognizing the necessity, or at least trying to structure protection for cultural treasures in times of war, the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property was issued by the Hague in 1954 stating, in part, “damage to cultural property belonging to any people whatsoever means damage to the cultural heritage of all mankind, since each people make its contribution to the culture of the world.”

What is especially distressing is that these acts of destruction and looting only seem to be increasing when the need for appreciating our shared cultural heritage is more important than ever. Furthering our knowledge of each other can lead to greater connections, tolerance, and perhaps peace. And then, of course, there is the beauty, wonder, and awe that so many of these places and objects inspire. Museums are important repositories for many objects that have left their places of creation. Our institution is rich in precious treasures that serve as material representations of cultural practices that have been obliterated by war, such as our collection of ceramics from Mali. Yet nothing replaces seeing these individual objects in their original context.

Continuing this line of thinking may challenge us as we face the question of what to save and what to erase in our own communities—from statues and murals to parks and buildings. We now appreciate the importance of preserving even the most vile aspects of our history as a part of our civic responsibility. Over time, we learn how to properly interpret historical events for the benefit of current and future generations, by placing them in a context where they stimulate dialogue and give us insight by understanding the past. As the Museum continues to collect objects for the preservation and appreciation of cultural heritages around the world, perhaps our approach can inform or inspire how Birminghamians memorialize important, if painful, events from our storied history. I hope you will join us this fall for exhibitions and collection-based programming designed to offer new perspectives of a shared cultural heritage that can teach us more about ourselves and each other.

Gail Andrews
The R. Hugh Daniel Director

The Collection

The Birmingham Museum of Art, one of the finest regional museums in the United States, houses a diverse collection of more than 26,000 paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, and decorative arts dating from ancient to modern times. The collection presents a rich panorama of cultures, featuring the Museum’s extensive holdings of Asian, European, American, African, Pre-Columbian, and Native American art. The mission of the Birmingham Museum of Art is to provide an unparalleled cultural and educational experience to a diverse community by collecting, presenting, interpreting, and preserving works of art of the highest quality.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Birmingham Museum of Art is to spark the creativity, imagination, and liveliness of Birmingham by connecting all its citizens to the experience, meaning, and joy of art.